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Aug
31

Apple chokes on Samsung’s tablet

http://www.iondah.com/2011/08/31/apple-chokes-on-samsungs-tablet/, Apple chokes on Samsung’s tablet

Over the past few weeks a fierce battle has been raging between Apple and Samsung over the Launch of the upcoming Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet. It is set to become the most credible Android based-challenger to the iPad 2 this year. Through court challenges Australia as well as Germany Apple has succeeded in delaying the launch of the Galaxy Tab until at least the end of September.

The crux of Apple’s argument is that the Samsung device too closely resembles the iPad 2 in terms of its broad physical appearance. While on the surface this argument seems to have merit, it is the tactics Apple has been employing in the case such as digitally editing pictures of the Galaxy tab to make it appear more like the iPad 2 that demonstrates the case is more about maintaining a monopoly than about protecting intellectual property.
It is fair and legal for OEMs to pursue legal action against infringements on their patents and as anyone who reads the news knows, both Apple and Samsung are no strangers to this type of action, even against each other.

The issue here is that Apple is showing clear intentions of stifling competition while using tenuous, vague patent challenges as a pre-text. This is bad news whether you are in either the Apple or Android camps and even worse if you are undecided.

Potential impacts to the burgeoning tablet market are wide ranging. Apple is able to hang onto their monopoly for a little longer meaning there is no incentive to reduce prices, attract App developers or to innovate on their own product platform. If this continues over time, consumers are left paying more for products with minimal generational improvements.
For Samsung and other OEMS it becomes harder to break open then market and the all-important ecosystem of apps takes longer to get off the ground. Consumers end up paying more on the back of expensive court cases and product re-development.

It’s concerning that as the market leader, Apple is taking a negative approach to competition. In the long run it doesn’t benefit anyone, including Apple, other OEMs, the consumer and the market in general.

Source:

The Age: http://www.theage.com.au/digital-life/tablets/apple-again-cruels-samsung-tablet-plans-20110829-1jh8q.html

 

Permanent link to this article: http://www.iondah.com/2011/08/31/apple-chokes-on-samsungs-tablet/

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